From the Archives: 2003 – The Beginnings of Nuestro Futuro

Latine culture is rooted in longstanding traditions of coming together to support families, neighbors, and communities. Latine households are significantly more likely than non-Latine households to participate in informal ways of giving to families and communities, rather than to established charitable organizations. More formalized vehicles for Latine giving date back to the 1980s, when funding cuts at state and local levels led to the creation of funds addressing the needs of Latine communities. Inspired by such funds, key figures at the Trust spearheaded efforts to provide Latine philanthropists in Chicago a means to engage in more formalized giving. This work culminated in 2003 with the Trust creating what is now the country’s largest fund dedicated to Latine philanthropy.  

In 1996, leaders from the philanthropic and Latine communities came together at the Trust to discuss how to encourage the Latine community to become more involved in more formalized philanthropy. During the gathering, Bruce Newman, the Trust’s Executive Director at the time, along with Trust staff and representatives from the Donors Forum and the Latino Institute, established a committee to oversee the “Latino Philanthropy Project” within the Donors Forum.  

With the Trust’s support of a $25,000 grant to the Donors Forum, the project would advance under the leadership of Virginia Ojeda, a member of the Trust Executive Committee and the first Latina franchise owner of a McDonald’s restaurant in the Chicago area. After its initial meeting with over 200 people, of whom nearly 60% were Latine professionals from the business, banking, and government sectors, a proposal to explore the feasibility of establishing a Latine-focused fund at the Trust was developed.  

In 2003, members of the Executive Committee Maria Bechily, Adela Cepeda, Marty Castro, and Virginia Ojeda advocated for the creation of an endowed fund that would fundraise and make grants to benefit the Latine community. That same year, the Trust and Latine civic leaders launched Nuestro Futuro, one of the few funds at the time focused on the Latine community in the country. In 2006, the fund awarded nearly $200,000 to 10 area nonprofits in its first round of grants. 

Today, Nuestro Futuro is the largest fund of its kind in the country providing critical support to Latine-led and Latine-serving community organizations. Over its 20+ year history, it has distributed $3.6 million in grant funding to over 70 nonprofit organizations. In addition to providing much-needed financial support to nonprofits, Nuestro Futuro offers Latine philanthropists the opportunity to connect with their heritage and peers.   

As Maria Bechily, one of Nuestro Futuro’s founding co-chairs, reflected, “The ultimate beauty of Nuestro Futuro is the power of collective philanthropy at work.”  

Nuestro Futuro is one of six Affinity Funds at The Chicago Community Trust. Affinity funds are made up of donors united by a shared heritage, identity or common interest. They offer an efficient way to support a specific group of people and the nonprofits that aid them by leveraging contributions through collective giving. If you’re interested in learning more, you can find information about Nuestro Futuro through the Trust’s website.